Coventry's rebuilt team for 2014 will be headed by top Danish international Hans Andersen.

Promoter Mick Horton was ecstatic to complete a deal with the 33-year-old last night in a move which also virtually confirms the Buildbase Bees will track a completely different one-to-seven than in their wooden spoon campaign just ended.

Andersen, a former Grand Prix and World Cup winner, will technically go into a third spell at Brandon having seen out the 2008 campaign with the club and then started 2011 in Coventry colours – although a badly broken foot limited him to just one senior appearance in that season.

With Chris Harris, Kenneth Hansen and Ryan Fisher already signed up, Andersen’s arrival answers the question of whether Bees would go for an out-and-out No.1 – and Horton admits that was always his preferred strategy.

He said: “We went for a No.1 of the calibre of Hans because we want the best. We feel that Hans is indeed one of the best, he’s proved that in the averages, and this will send out a message that we are really serious about this team.

“Hans wants to come, which is important to us, and we welcome him. They don’t come much better than Hans Andersen.

“I want all our fans to know how serious we are about 2014. There are no excuses next season. This team is going to be the team to beat, and we aren’t interested in coming second.

“We want to win this league, and this signing just proves our intent. Along with the signings we’ve made already, we are going to be a very strong force in 2014.”

With just over five points remaining for the final member of their top five, the signing of Andersen means there will be no place next season for 2013 skipper Scott Nicholls, or Rider of the Year Grzegorz Zengota.

Aaron Summers had already tweeted that he was not in the club’s plans, and the news also ends speculation that Bees could move for unsettled Birmingham captain Danny King.